The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-19
FOUGHT FOR A FREE RIDE.
Life-and-Death Struggle on the Bumpers OF
Moving Train.


Life-and-Death Struggle the Bumpers Of
Moving Train.
New York World.
A desperate fight occurred yesterday morning
q train on the Delaware, LackawaDa % Wes-
tern railroad near Boonton, n. j. and the con-
ductor, who was participant in the ARRAY. is
now lying in the hospital at Paterson suffering
from what are regarded very serious II not
fatal injuries. The man who caused the fight is
named Maher. but his home In not known.
Early yesterday morning he boarded a freight
train near Morristown and proceeded to mako
himself comfortable on the bumpers between
two cars for ride to New York. Conductor
Stickler discovered his presence and told him to
get off. Maher refused, with oath, and said
that he proposed to 60 just far the train
went
Conductor Stickler was about to signal to the
engineer to stop. in order that he might put the
fellow off, when Maher grappled with him. and
q life-and death struggle ensued Both men
were locked in each others arms, and they were
on the narrow bumpers that connected the two
cars The train was going at the rate of forty
miles an hour. and to fall off would be certain
death to either of the men. With this knowl-
edge they struggled desperately Now one had
the advantage. then the other. The train kept
up It's rapid speed. and the conductor had
means of making known his psrilous position to
the rest OF tho train men, who could have gone
to his rescue. The struggling fast
growing weak. They had torn each others cloth
ing and scratched and pummeled each other
until both their faces were covered with blood.
At last they grew weak that they fell of the
train clutched in each others arms, when
Niger Hill. place lear Boonton, and rolled
down a steep enbankment at the bottom of
which was great pile of Jagged rocks. The
conductor was badly I'M ured that he lay there
motioness. but Maher had a most miraculous
escape from being injured. He got up and started
down the track. leaving Stickler where he fell,
and proceeded towards New York.
1t was not until the train had reached point
where instructions from the conductor were
necessary that Stickler was missed Then word
telegraphed back along the line to look for
his body along the track. it being supposed that
he had fallen off and been killed. Meanwhile a
passenger train came along and the engineer
saw Stickler lying the rocks at the foot of the
embankment, apparently dead The train
stopped and Stickler taken aboard. When
they arrived st Paterson he was taken to the
city hospital, where it was discovered that he
had received internal injuries that may result in
his death.
When Stickler had told his story to the hos
pital authorities a second telegram was sent
description of Maher, and ordering his arrest
wherever he might be found But Maher
evaded arrest for the time being by boarding the
next passenger train that came along. He had
Waddiek asked him FOR his ticket he kicked up
another by hitting the conductor a terrible
blow in the face, but this time he was worsted
The baggage-master and several brakemen came
a frightful beating, after which they put him off
the train at Little Ferry. Maher then walked
into Hoboken, where he weEt to the Universal
rubberworks and applied for work. He
refused, and as he came out of the building De-
tective Frank McKenna, Of the railroad took
him into custody. Maher showed fight in this
case also, but the detective knew the caibre of
the man he had to deal with. and frightened
him into submission by placing the muzzie of
his revolver against his head. Last night
and he will be held thee to await the result of
Stickler's injuries.